Malaysia: An inclusive policy measure is needed to end hate speech and discrimination article19.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from article19.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
There is no universally agreed-upon definition of hate speech, nor is the term hate speech codified in international law. In reviewing definitions of hate speech from varying institutions, ARTICLE 19 has identified that the term to encompass any expression imparting opinions or ideas bringing an internal opinion or idea to an external audience. Hate speech can take many forms, including written, non-verbal, visual, artistic, etc, and may be disseminated through any media, including internet, print, radio, or television.
ARTICLE 19 and 8 partners in press freedom, civil liberties, and international human rights advocacy organisations have written an open letter to the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) to urge the repeal of the Sedition Act, which is currently subject to challenge in the court of appeals in Wan Ji Bin Wan Hussin’s case.
On 13 and 14 May, Malaysian authorities raided 11 nationwide outlets belonging to the Swiss watch maker Swatch and seized over 100 colourful watches from their ‘Pride Collection”, created to celebrate the Pride movement and promote LGBTQ+ rights ahead of Pride Month in June.
On 12 March 2023, some 300 people, including human rights defenders and civil society groups, took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate International Women’s Day.